Aloha BBQ Grill — Restaurant in Lubbock

Excerpts from my journal:

Sunday, August 17 - Today, I needed to make the long journey from Lubbock to Dallas. I heard from my cousins yesterday that Aloha BBQ was a place I had to go to, so I delayed the journey and went to Aloha BBQ with my brother. The signage was subtle with yellow lettering outside the building. We walked in and there were not many decorations on the wall, which made me think that "maybe these guys put all of their efforts into their cooking." I took the recommendation from my cousins to get the Chicken Fried Rice. The man that took my order was very jolly and told me it would be about 10-15 minutes for the food. I was pleased because they really do wait until you order to start cooking. Shortly after the grill was fired up, a pleasant aroma of Hawaiian barbecue filled my nostrils. My stomach was beginning to prepare itself for the ravishing endeavor that lied ahead. When the food came in the thoughtfully packaged styrofoam container, I was surprised as to how much food was in the meal. My cousins told me the portions were large but I had no idea that there would be a mountain of chicken on top of the fried rice w/ assorted vegetables. For a brief moment, I thought I would have to alert the island villagers about the grim fate of the volcano that was teeming with energy and about the erupt onto their surrounding landscape. Then I was reminded that this was just a meal that I had the pleasure to enjoy. Usually, when you order chicken fried rice form your "run of the mill" restaurant, you get fried rice with a little bit of chicken. Well, at Aloha BBQ, the chicken takes precedence and the chicken is grilled and seasoned to a delightful level. So I scarfed down the chicken fried rice that happened to be the best I have ever come across. There was so much food that I ate off-and-on the entire trip back to Dallas with the leftovers.

Monday, August 25 - Today, I was in the aisle at the grocery store and came across Spiracha hot chili sauce. This was the same sauce that the nice gentleman at Aloha BBQ suggested to top off my chicken fried rice. I just had to buy the hot sauce to give me a little taste and remembrance of my dining experience at Aloha BBQ. I cannot wait to go back and enjoy another selection off the menu at the masterpiece establishment the fine folks of Aloha BBQ...

2023: the food and it's volume is still wonderful. But the spotty reliability about when they're open and how LONG of a wait is deterrent. I've read it's is so low staffed and they often go back home for long stretches it makes sense but the last order I had inate 2022 was more than an hour and I just don't want to sit at their shop for that to find in or go home. 😞

2018: Every visit here is on point, everything is always delicious and filling and hot. It's probably the best bang for your buck in Lubbock, outside of your very stereotypical McDonalds. They give you a ton of food for your money. And it's all authentic, according to my family who has lived in Hawaii. The macaroni salad is hands-down my favorite thing to eat there especially with a bite of rice. Everything on the menu is fantastic from the katsu chicken to the musubi to the saimin to the Kahlua pork. It is never a bad choice to eat here. More often than not I call in an order and pick it up for lunch, if you get the opportunity especially on a nice day, dining outside with a box full of their food is a perfect afternoon. Also their fried rice and down beside out anywhere else in town simply because when you order the protein, be it chicken or bacon or another kind, they overload you with that protein. You're not hunting for chicken or bacon, it's slapping you in the face with its flavor and presence. They don't short you in...

First of all, we LOVE the food. The price is right and portions very large. HOWEVER, don’t waste time calling in an order ahead of time. I called in our order 30 minutes ahead of going to pick it up. After I paid, the very unfriendly woman put it at the END of the line of orders on the counter!!! I asked her why my order was placed at the end and I had called it in 30 minutes ago. She told me because all of the other people were ahead of me!! I waited another 30 minutes before my food was ready. I said, “Just so I understand, it doesn’t help to call ahead?” She said no. I was fuming, but will eat there again because the food is so delicious. I would suggest for them to put a message on their answering machine that they do not accept phone orders. I’ve never had this happen with any other restaurant! I’m sure they have had people call in orders and never pickup, but if they choose to do business like this, the customer needs to know their order will be placed at the end of the line when they pay, or accept payment over the phone. The lady at the front also needs some lessons on customer service. It’s a good thing they have delicious food; they would have been out of business a...